Okay, so here's a new chapter. They might get longer, they might not. I never actually intended to write this story, as it was Tiggy's idea originally, and I just didn't want to take on any other projects. However, I love the idea, so here I am. I really do hate to do this, but I'm going to ask that if you're reading this, enjoying it or not, drop a review. I'm well aware of the fact that I'm not a constant reviewer (to be honest, I haven't looked at the Wicked section in several months beyond reading stories by authors already on my alert list), but I do try. I only want to ask the same. I don't really care about glowing praise or anything like that, but I like to know what people think. It's kind of the reason this whole site exists. I hope you all enjoy this newest update, and expect for the next one to come a little faster because I already have an inkling of what's going to happen next.

Glinda stumbled after Elphaba through the dimly lit underbrush; they had been traveling for several days, and she cursed the fact that she had worn high-heeled shoes to the Emerald City. While they had once been shoes at the height of fashion, they were now caked in mud, the soles were rubbing away, and she didn't even want to think of the damage done to her feet. They used Elphaba's broom for the most part, but it was an uncomfortable ride for two people, so they had walked more than Glinda really wanted to.

The cracking of a twig made Elphaba jump and whirl around to Glinda's side, extending the arm holding the broom towards the sound.

"Elphie, that broom isn't going to do much to protect us," Glinda hissed as she eyed the thick bushes warily.

A large figure emerged in front of them, and Glinda let out a sharp shriek before she felt what seemed to be a very hairy hand pressed against her mouth.

"Shut up."

Glinda looked up at her oppressor with wide eyes and smiled at the sight of the Bear; Elphaba motioned for the Animal to let go of the blonde and wrapped her arm around Glinda's waist.

"I've been looking for the two of you for the past couple of days," he explained. "There's an encampment of Animals a few miles from here, and we want for you to join us."

"How can we know that you won't betray us?" Elphaba raised an eyebrow in challenge to his offer.

"Any enemy of the Wizard is our greatest friend. And, we have food, water, and a warm fire for you to rest by."

"I think we should risk it." Glinda wasn't used to making decisions, but the prospect of being able to rest in semi-peace for one night was enough to make her like the Bear. "He is an Animal, Elphie."

Elphaba sighed. "All right. It would be nice to have some real food."

Glinda squealed with happiness, and taking Elphaba's hand, she promptly skipped after the Bear into the bushes, Elphaba tripping over her own feet to keep up with Glinda's eagerness. They weren't very careful during their journey, but Elphaba excused the noise based on the fact that it was very late at night, and they were no longer alone and unarmed; she firmly believed that the Bear's long claws and sharp teeth were better weapons than a few spells learned in an elementary course on sorcery.

When they reached the edge of the encampment, the small fires giving off a warm glow, Glinda bounced on the balls of her feet and hugged Elphaba close.

"What is wrong with you?" Elphaba freed herself from Glinda's ironclad grasp.

Glinda just shook her head and rushed to the closest fire, stripping off her shoes on the way. Elphaba followed behind her, picking up the discarded shoes, and she settled down next to Glinda, a plate of food shoved under her nose one second later. Elphaba took the plate gratefully, nearly wolfing down the food, and she almost expected a lecture from Glinda on propriety and table manners, but a glance in Glinda's direction put that thought from her mind; Glinda was almost rubbing her face into her plate.

A few hours later, the two girls huddled close to the fire, enjoying the comfort of having others nearby, but they both preferred to be alone with each other. Elphaba played lazily with Glinda's curls, her green fingers twisting in the blonde strands; Glinda grinned at her friend and stood up.

"Dance with me, Elphie."

Elphaba shook her head emphatically. "I don't dance. Ever."

Glinda ignored her refusal and pulled a reluctant Elphaba to her feet. Twirling, Glinda spun crazy circles around the slightly taller woman, her face glowing with joy and love. Throwing her head back, Elphaba allowed Glinda to take her hands and lead her in a wild caper around the fire, laughter pouring from their lips. Glinda looked over at Elphaba, watching the firelight playing over the sharp angles of her face; she thought she had never seen Elphaba look more beautiful.

Fiyero barely spared the wrinkled pages of the front page of his paper any attention as he shoved some clothes into a bag; he had just posted a letter to his father informing the king of his decision to leave Shiz and enlist in the Gale Force. He didn't care if his father would be disappointed because the only thoughts in his mind were about Elphaba and Glinda. He couldn't allow them to stand against the Wizard on their own; they would be killed. He was leaving that night, and he hoped that he would be able to get to them in time. Animals had been disappearing from the town ever since Dr. Dillamond had been dragged off campus, and Fiyero knew that the situation would only get worse. He was tired of sitting on the sidelines and watching the world go by. Closing his bag, he slung it over his shoulder, and after a moment's pause, he shoved the pictures of Glinda and Elphaba from the newspaper into his pocket. And, he set off for the Emerald City.